What we’ve been up to...

This is the final Newsletter of 2025, and we want to thank educators and staff members who work in our organizations across the Illinois P-20 Network for all your efforts on behalf of students. We hope that over Winter Break, everyone is able to take time to rest, relax, and recharge.

Since our last Newsletter, we’ve been excited to engage with colleagues from across the state at the Illinois Joint Annual Conference (Triple-I). Pictured above is ISBE’s Sergio Hernandez sharing resources and supports that have been cultivated by the Illinois P-20 Network and the NIU College of Education. We’ve also...

Led a panel discussion at the Illinois Association of School Business Officials Support Con.

Moderated a panel about leadership in today’s uncertain times at the Illinois State Board of Education’s 2025 Multilingual Illinois Conference, which is organized in collaboration with ISBE by the Illinois Resource Center.

Presented at Glenbard Township High School 87’s SOAR Conference about authentic learning, the Illinois Essential Skills, and all of the benefits of shifting instruction to make it relevant and centered on students above all else.

Again, we wish each of you a wonderful and relaxing Winter Break!

ECN Conference – AI with Jim Knight

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting this year’s ECN Conference with Jim Knight on Thursday, April 30, 2026. The ECN Conference will be held at NIU Naperville, and this year’s topic will be: Using AI: Best Practices and Tools for Instructional Coaches and Leaders. This is an area in which Jim has been doing a significant amount of work, and the ECN Conference will allow participants to discover how artificial intelligence can elevate the practice of instructional and peer coaching—without losing the essential human connection at its core. We’ll explore how AI tools can streamline planning, analyze lessons, and support strategic decision-making while leaving the empathy, intuition, and trust of coaching firmly in human hands.

Learn more and register

Educators Rising Illinois. Illinois Education Association

NIU – IEA Educators Rising Experience

The Northern Illinois University College of Education, the Illinois Education Association, and the Illinois P-20 Network have collaborated to offer a first-ever NIU - IEA Educators Rising Experience on Thursday, February 26, 2026, on-campus in DeKalb, Illinois. This event is designed for school districts to bring high school students who are interested in pursuing a career as educators, including as teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and more!

This event has been custom built based directly on feedback from educators in high schools. This event will run from 9.30 AM to 1.30 PM and will include breakout sessions and opportunities for high school students to interact directly with multiple Illinois Teachers of the Year. Lunch will be included.

We are currently finalizing pricing with all efforts being made to keep costs as low as possible. In the meantime, if you are interested in reserving spaces for your students, please complete this short form. We will follow up with more details!

ISAC College Q&A Text Service

What do people of all ages, and especially high school students and traditional postsecondary students, really love today? Texting rather than talking on the phone!

ISAC has a solution that we should be sharing with our students! Students can get answers to college planning and financial aid questions via text in English or Spanish and receive updates on events and deadlines.

For our students to participate, they simply need to text their first and last name to 847-243-6470 for English or 773-823-0570 for Spanish!

ISBE Accountability Redesign Phase II Virtual Listening Tour

ISBE Accountability Plan Feedback Extended

ISBE State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders recently announced that ISBE is adjusting the timeline for the Accountability Plan and extending the initial public comment period to January 7, 2026, for a total of 72 days. ISBE continues to stress that each step of the process is being guided by the feedback that they receive. Learn more at: https://www.isbe.net/feedback

P-20 Network Email Newsletter —
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P-20 Network Newsletters will typically come out every two weeks on Friday. The newsletters include updates on critical policy developments, professional development opportunities, success stories from the Network and much more.

You are receiving this message because you have previously attended a P-20 Network Meeting and/or have been on previous P-20 Network emails. We encourage you to forward this email to others in your organization, such as principals, assistant principals, and department chairs by using the Forward to a Friend link below. Others can subscribe by simply completing this very short form.

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